On the wall outside my speech therapy room there are cartoons of children saying, "I can!"

I tell my students the word "can't" is not allowed in my room.

It's only natural to begin believing what you hear, so tell yourself you can do anything. We hate to be wrong, so if you tell yourself you can do something then you are more willing to do what it takes to achieve something so you can prove yourself right. If you believe you can't do something then you have given up and will stop trying.

Some of my students have a hard time understanding this concept. I think this is because they truly believe they can't produce a sound or remember the order of days.

"I just want them to believe in themselves and know that can be the best in whatever they want. They have a hard time receiving that positive reinforcement because of their confidence levels," said Desiree Tamez, a middle-school teacher, referring to her students with disabilities.

Self-confidence and esteem play big roles in everybody's life. I believe it's the biggest factor for success, which is why I stress its importance.

People with disabilities have to realize their disability is just one aspect of their life. It is not who they are.

"I have Lupus. Lupus doesn't have me," Evelina Solis said .

Evelina is the founder of SoltoSoul, co-founder of Power of Women workshop, a motivational speaker, mother and wife,

She is a strong woman and is determined to defeat Lupus. She may not be happy to undergo surgeries or therapy but she is optimistic about it all. And her optimistic outlook has kept her alive, strong and successful.

She advised me and other women to "stop our freaking thinking." This means to stop thinking all those negative thoughts because they are not doing anything for us but hindering our abilities.

The article "Who Me? Self-Esteem for People with Disabilities," by Ryan J. Voigt, mentions several tips to improve your self-esteem.

One tip states to avoid "should" statements, such as, "I should be able to finish this exam in 50 minutes like everyone else in the class." Voigt mentions how accommodations are set to offer an equal opportunity for students to show what they know.

A healthy self-esteem gives you the strength to achieve personal success.